Naomi Campbell lauds ‘great impact’ of fashion creatives at 4th World Conference on Creative Economy

Naomi Campbell lauds ‘great impact’ of fashion creatives at 4th World Conference on Creative Economy
Keynote speaker and supermodel Naomi Campbell at the opening day of the fourth World Conference on Creative Economy. (Supplied)
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Updated 03 October 2024
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Naomi Campbell lauds ‘great impact’ of fashion creatives at 4th World Conference on Creative Economy

Naomi Campbell lauds ‘great impact’ of fashion creatives at 4th World Conference on Creative Economy

TASHKENT: Creative leaders and policymakers from around the world gathered in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on Wednesday for the opening day of the fourth World Conference on Creative Economy.

Opening the event was keynote speaker and supermodel Naomi Campbell, who lauded the power of the fashion economy in an interview with Arab News.

The conference, organized by the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation, is taking place until Oct. 4. In her opening remarks, Campbell said: “The theme of this year’s conference, ‘Inclusively Creative: A Shifted Reality,’ could not be more fitting. We are in a time of immense transformation, and this gathering is a testament to the power of creativity to not only adapt to but also lead these changes.”

The creative sectors are currently undergoing a transformation which can be a force for inclusive, sustainable economic growth. Cultural and creative industries are among the fastest-growing globally, generating annual revenues of nearly US$2.3 trillion, according to the UN Conference on Trade and Development.

In a panel discussion titled “Threads of Inclusion: The Impact of Fashion on the Creative Economy,” Campbell explored how supporting up-and-coming fashion designers within Africa and the diaspora, especially in emerging markets, can build economies and yield growth.

“There is a such a great impact,” she told Arab News afterwards. “I think governments of emerging markets didn’t realize before the impact what their talent in fashion could do and bring to their economy. They now do and understand what it can do. They’re now taking it more seriously and that’s what we want. We want them to invest in their own and then that is also how we can get investors from outside too. It is crucial to invest in your own talent.”

Campbell, who has been part of numerous events in Saudi Arabia — most notably on the red carpet at the Red Sea International Film Festival — said she had been impressed with the changes happening throughout the Gulf region.

“Women are getting opportunities that they never had before and that in itself is amazing,” she told Arab News, adding that many of these lay within creative fields.

“They are quickly embracing these roles and being included,” she said. “I just want to make people feel included because I know what it’s like to not be included. I don’t want people to ever feel that.”


Actress Andria Tayeh fronts Armani’s latest campaign

Actress Andria Tayeh fronts Armani’s latest campaign
Updated 01 March 2025
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Actress Andria Tayeh fronts Armani’s latest campaign

Actress Andria Tayeh fronts Armani’s latest campaign

DUBAI: Lebanese Jordanian actress Andria Tayeh this week fronted Armani’s Ramadan campaign, set against the backdrop of a desert landscape.

Draped in a flowing emerald-green abaya, Tayeh was seen in the video applying the Vert Malachite perfume from Armani Prive as the camera captured the details of the fragrance and her attire. The setting featured sand dunes stretching into the horizon.

The campaign integrates elements of regional aesthetics with Armani’s luxury branding, aligning with the themes of Ramadan. Vert Malachite, known for its rich and opulent notes, is presented as part of the brand’s seasonal focus.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Andria Tayeh (@andria_tayeh)

“Ramadan is a time of gratitude and blessings,” the star wrote to her 1.1 million followers on Instagram. “Honored to share this journey with Armani Prive and Vert Malachite, and wishing you a month filled with light and peace.”

Tayeh, known for her roles in Austrian filmmaker Kurdwin Ayub’s “Mond” and Netflix’s hit series “Al-Rawabi School for Girls,” has had a busy start to the year, collaborating with multiple brands and fronting their campaigns.

Last month, Giorgio Armani announced her appointment as its new Middle East beauty ambassador.

She took to Instagram to express her excitement, writing: “I am thrilled and honored to embark on this new journey with Armani beauty.

“This marks a real milestone for me, as the brand embodies values I have always cherished: timeless elegance, dramatic simplicity, and women empowerment,” she said. “Armani beauty reveals one’s charismatic personality in the most subtle and natural way. It’s this pure simplicity that creates an impact, and this is exactly what I hope to bring to the Arab cinema world.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Andria Tayeh (@andria_tayeh)

That same month, she was named the first Middle Eastern ambassador for French hair care brand Kerastase.

In a promotional clip, she appeared in an all-white studio, answering questions about why she is the ideal Kerastase ambassador. Tayeh spoke in a mix of English, Arabic and French, playfully flipping her hair for the camera as she discusses her dedication to maintaining healthy hair.

“Growing up, hair was always a big part of my identity, and now, representing a brand that celebrates hair in all its beauty feels surreal. Here’s to confidence, strength and great hair,” Tayeh captioned her post on Instagram at the time.


Health-conscious Ramadan recipes: Easy detox curry by chef Mayssam Abdulkhalek

Health-conscious Ramadan recipes: Easy detox curry by chef Mayssam Abdulkhalek
Updated 01 March 2025
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Health-conscious Ramadan recipes: Easy detox curry by chef Mayssam Abdulkhalek

Health-conscious Ramadan recipes: Easy detox curry by chef Mayssam Abdulkhalek

DUBAI: Executive chef Mayssam Abdulkhalek at Qatar’s Zulal Wellness Resort shares a clean eating recipe for iftar.

This detox curry is high in vitamins and minerals and low in calories due to the inclusion of beta-carotene-packed pumpkin, fiber-rich kohlrabi and cauliflower.

Billed as the Middle East’s first full immersion wellbeing resort, Zulal Wellness Resort’s offerings are based on the core tenets of traditional Arabic and Islamic medicine.

Detox curry

Ingredients: 

               30        gr                 Pumpkin                                    

              40       gr                   Kohlrabi

              20       gr                   Purple Cauliflower

              20       gr                   Cauliflower

              10       gr                   Mushroom

                1       gr          Sweet Basil

              40       gr          Coconut Milk

              60       ml          Vegetable Stock

              0.1      gr          Salt

                 2      gr          Coconut Sugar

Detox Curry Paste 

            250       ml                   Vegetable Stock

              50       gr           Red Chili

                1       gr           Kaffir Lime Leaf

              75       gr           Garlic

              50       gr           Galangal

Instructions:

Curry Paste

1. Peel all vegetables, cut thinly, and put in the blender.

2. Blend with vegetable stock until smooth in texture.

Curry

1. In a large saucepan, bring the coconut milk and curry paste to a boil over medium-high heat.

2. Whisk until smooth, about 2 minutes. Add the kohlrabi, cauliflower, pumpkin, and mushroom. Bring to a simmer until vegetables are tender.

3. Season with salt and coconut sugar.

4. Put sweet basil at the last before serving.


Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio tease intense Daredevil-Kingpin showdown in ‘Daredevil: Born Again’

Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio tease intense Daredevil-Kingpin showdown in ‘Daredevil: Born Again’
Updated 01 March 2025
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Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio tease intense Daredevil-Kingpin showdown in ‘Daredevil: Born Again’

Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio tease intense Daredevil-Kingpin showdown in ‘Daredevil: Born Again’
  • Disney+ releases 2-episode premiere March 5
  • Actors highlight characters’ evolving dynamics

DUBAI: Marvel fans are all set for a return to Hell’s Kitchen as Disney+ gears up for the release of “Daredevil: Born Again,” a revival of the beloved “Daredevil” series that originally streamed on Netflix.

The new show brings back Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock, the blind lawyer who moonlights as the horned vigilante, and Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk, the formidable crime boss known as Kingpin.

Ahead of the show’s two-episode premiere on March 5, Cox and D’Onofrio shared insights into their characters’ evolving dynamics in a virtual press conference.

Cox assured fans that while Murdock remains fundamentally the same character, he faces new emotional and psychological challenges. “It’s hard to talk about without spoilers,” he said.

“Early on, Matt suffers a trauma that forces him to rethink and rediscover his identity in a way we haven’t seen before. He ends up going down a path that I’d describe as a Band-Aid that has to be ripped off slowly and painfully.”

The revival finds Murdock attempting to leave his vigilante past behind, only to be drawn back into a dangerous game as Fisk reemerges — not as a crime lord, but as a politician running for mayor of New York City.

Their conflicting paths set the stage for a fresh yet intense confrontation between the two.

D’Onofrio highlighted the rarity of direct face-offs between Daredevil and Kingpin, despite their deep-seated rivalry. “We’ve only been in five or six scenes together over the years,” he revealed.

“And that’s because when we do share a scene, it has to mean something — it’s always at the beginning of something, or the end, or sometimes both. It has to be intense.”

This time, the show takes a different approach, bringing the two adversaries together much earlier in the season. Cox explained that this shift creates a fresh dynamic.

“Bringing us together early on is something we haven’t done before,” he said. “It puts them in a position where they have to trust each other’s ability to stay true to who they say they are. That changes the game.”

D’Onofrio also offered a metaphorical take on the characters’ struggles. “We’re both broken men trying to live in the daylight,” he said. “It’s like vampires trying to walk in the sun — it’s a struggle.

“He’s got his thing, I’ve got my plan, and putting us together creates an unavoidable tension.”


Saudi artist Mawadah Muhtasib collaborates with Harrods for Ramadan and Eid

Saudi artist Mawadah Muhtasib collaborates with Harrods for Ramadan and Eid
Updated 28 February 2025
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Saudi artist Mawadah Muhtasib collaborates with Harrods for Ramadan and Eid

Saudi artist Mawadah Muhtasib collaborates with Harrods for Ramadan and Eid

DUBAI: London’s luxury department store Harrods announced on Friday its collaboration with celebrated Saudi calligrapher Mawadah Muhtasib for its Ramadan and Eid campaign. 

This is the third year in a row that Harrods has collaborated with an Arab calligrapher. 

Muhtasib is known for her Arabic calligraphy, using Muthana (mirror writing) and reverse script. Her work modernizes traditional calligraphy while keeping its original essence.

“Ramadan Kareem,” Mawadah Muhtasib. (Supplied)

For this collaboration, Muhtasib created two bespoke artwork pieces that blend Islamic floral motifs with her distinctive style. 

The first, featuring the message “Ramadan Kareem,” is set against a deep-blue backdrop, reflecting the spiritual ambience of Ramadan. 

The second design, adorned with “Eid Mubarak,” embraces a vibrant pink palette, symbolizing the joy and festivity of Eid celebrations. 

“Eid Mubarak,” Mawadah Muhtasib. (Supplied)

“I am thrilled to collaborate with Harrods to mark Ramadan and Eid this year,” Muhtasib said. “Arabic calligraphy holds a profound power beyond artistic beauty — it is a true reflection of heritage, culture and design that transcends all generations.

“For this collection, it was important for me to capture the harmony between the elegance of Arabic script and the beauty of nature. The floral illustrations of the design showcase the versatility of Arabic calligraphy, affirming its place in the world of luxury and design,” she said. 

Muhtasib’s creations will be showcased throughout Harrods’ Ramadan and Eid campaign, including their in-store displays, digital greetings, social content and in the iconic Knightsbridge food halls. 

Additionally, Muhtasib’s artwork will feature on Harrods’ Eid gifting packaging. 


Georgina Rodriguez visits children’s cancer center in Saudi

Georgina Rodriguez visits children’s cancer center in Saudi
Updated 28 February 2025
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Georgina Rodriguez visits children’s cancer center in Saudi

Georgina Rodriguez visits children’s cancer center in Saudi

DUBAI: Argentine model Georgina Rodriguez visited the King Fahd National Centre for Children’s Cancer this week to support young patients.

During her visit, Rodriguez hugged and spoke with the children, and joined in their play with the dolls. (Supplied)

She was joined by Monica Esteban, president of the Spanish charity, the Juegaterapia Foundation, as they distributed Baby Pelones dolls featuring a scarf designed by Rodriguez.

During her visit, Rodriguez hugged and spoke with the children, and joined in their play with the dolls.

She was joined by Monica Esteban, president of the Spanish charity, the Juegaterapia Foundation, as they distributed Baby Pelones dolls featuring a scarf designed by Rodriguez. (Supplied)

The visit is a part of the foundation’s efforts to create a supportive hospital environment through therapeutic play, which helps improve the emotional well-being of children with cancer.